Cleaning implement for vacuum cleaning attachments



May 28, 968 z. LosToN 3,384,921

CLEANING IMPLEMENT FOR VACUUM CLEANING ATTACHMENTS Filed July l, 1966 .Dvx/Evra@ Zea@ loam/v,

United States Patent Otice 3,384,21 Patented May 28, 1968 3,384,921 CLEANING IMPLEMENT FOR VACUUM CLEANHNG ATTACHMENTS Zallo Loston, 113 S. Arnaz Drive, Beverly Hills, Calif. 99211 Filed .luly 1, 1966, Ser. No. 562,332 11 Claims. (Cl. 15-462) This invention relates to cleaning implements and more particularly to a cleaning device mounted in the end of a vacuum hose of suction cleaning apparatus, for cleaning various hose attachments.

Certain types of suction cleaning apparatus employ a flexible vacuum hose connecting to metal or plastic hollow rod to the end of which can be detachably mounted various types of cleaning brush attachments. The present invention is directed toward a comb-like implement mounted in the end of the vacuum hose handle of such suction cleaning apparatus for the purpose of cleaning the brushes f the cleaning attachments.

In its presently preferred form, the present invention cleaning implement comprises a curved comb-like structure coaxially mounted in the end of the vacuum hose and projecting therefrom, the teeth of the comb being in the form of barbed prongs with the barbs projecting radially inward, the row of barbed prongs arcuately extending about one-half of the inner circumference of the hose. The hose tttachment can be inserted into the end of the hose in the usual manner. F or cleaning of the head brushes, the wand is disconnected from the vacuum hose handle, the cleaning tool brought to the vauum hose handle, and the cleaning implement is used to clean the brushes with a combing-like movement, the vacuum being on so that the dislodged lint and other particles will be sucked into the vacuum hose,

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention 4to provide an improved cleaning implement.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an improved cleaning implement mounted into the end of a vacuum hose or suction cleaning apparatus.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved implement for cleaning the brushes of detachable cleaning heads used in suction cleaning apparatus.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device of the character described which is used in combination with the vacuum hose for efficient cleaning of the various brush attachments.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a device of the character described which can be permanently mounted in the end of a vacuum hose without interfering with the mounting of detachable cleaning attachments.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a device of the character described which is relatively smple and inexpensive.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a device ofthe character described which can be detachably mounted in the tubular handle on the end of the vacuum hose.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof will be better understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing in which a presently preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawing is for the purpose of illustration and description only, and is not intended as a definition of vthe limits of the invention.

In the drawing:

FIG. l is a perspective view, partially cut away, showing the cleaning implement mounted to the tubular connector of a vacuum cleaner hose;

FIG. 2 is a view taken along lthe line 2-2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing the end of the tubular connector with the cleaning implement mounted therein;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the structure shown in FIG. 3; and,

FIG. 5 is a view taken along the line 5--5 of FIG. 4, and showing one of the barbed prongs of the cleaning implement.

Turning now to the drawing, in FIG. 1 there is shown the vacuum hose and attachments of a typical household vacuum cleaner. A flexible vacuum hose 10 is provided at its end with a tubular connector 15, they connector 15 being adapted in the usual way for the detachable connection of extension tubes or cleaning attachments. In the illustrated embodiment a cleaning brush attachment 17 is shown coupled tothe tubular connector 15 by means of an extension tube 19 in the manner well known in the art.

The present invention cleaning implement generally indicated by the reference numeral 20, is mounted in the end of the tubular connector 15, as can best be seen in FIG. 3. The cleaning implement 2G is of unitary construction and comprises a band 21 having a row of barbed prongs 25 with barbs 26. The cleaning implement is fabricated from a flexible resilient material, such as metal and/or plastic for example. The cleaning implement can be fabricated with the band 21 either a flat or slightly arcuate configuration, in any event the band having la curvature substantially less than the arcuate curvature of the inside of the tubular connector or handle. The normal curvature of the band should be such that the band can be temporarily or permanently urged into a curvature greater than that of the tubular connector so that the band may be inserted into the end of the connector; the band then being allowed to spring open so that its resiliency holds it in tight engagement with the inner wall surface of the tubular connector. It may also employ the use of an adhesive for more permanent attachment.

The cleaning implement is mounted Within the end of the tubular connector so that the band 21 is inside the tubular connector, and with the row of barbed prongs 25 projecting axially therefrom and with the barbs 26 projecting radially inward (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The barbed prongs 26 are preferably less than three-quarters of an inch. It is presently preferred to fabricate the cleaning implement so that the row of barbed prongs 25 will extend arcuately over about one-half of the inner circumference of the tubular connector 15, the length 0f the band preferably extending arcuately over about three-quarters or more of the inner circumference of the tubular connector, as can best be seen in FIG. 4. This band length helps insure firm retention of the cleaning implement in the tubular connector, where it remains during normal vacuum cleaner use. It is also desirable to include a plurality of ribs 3() in the form of vertical indentations which are located across the entire surface of band 21; only a few of these ribs being shown in the drawing in the interest of clarity. These ribs 30 function to allow conformation of the band 2l to the inner circumference of the nozzle handle 15.

To use the cleaning implement to clean the bristles of the brush attachment 17, the cleaning attachment and the extension tube 19 are removed so that the prongs of the cleaning implement are exposed as in the view of FIG. 3. Then, with the vacuum still on, the user grasps the tubular connector 15 and pulls the barbed prongs of the cleaning implement through the bristles of the brush of the cleaning attachment with a combing-like movement, the vacuum 3 sucking any lint or other dislodged particlesinto the hose 10.

The length of the barbs 25 should be approximately equal to the length of the bristles of the brushes of the cleaning attachments, but should not be excessively long to prevent normal coupling to the extension tube or cleaning attachments. The end of the typical tubular connector is tapered slightly inwardly, the extension tubes and cleaning attachments being coaxially inserted into the tubular connector in the manner shown in FIG. 2. Thus, during normal vacuum cleaner use, the cleaning implement barbed prongs will extend into the extension tube or cleaning attachment and will not interfere with normal operations, the cleaning implement being always ready and available for use.

Although the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details and the structure and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a vacuum hose terminating in a tubular connector for insertion into a cleaning attachment, the improvement comprising a band having a row of barbed prongs, said band being disposed in an arcuate configuration Within said tubular connector with said barbed prongs projecting axially therefrom and with the barbs of said prongs projecting radially inward.

2. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein said band is coaxially aligned within said tubular connector and is contiguous with the inner wall surface of said tubular connector.

3. The combination defined in claim 2, wherein said band is detachable from said tubular connector.

4. The combination defined in claim 2, wherein said band is fabricated from a flexible resilient material and with a curvature substantially less than the arcuate curvature of said tubular connector, said band being inserted into said tubular connector whereby the resiliency of said band holds it in tight engagement with said inner wall surface of said tubular connector.

5. The combination defined in claim 4, wherein said band is metal.

6. The combination defined in claim 4, wherein said band is plastic.

7. The combination defined in claim 4, wherein the length of said band is less than the inner circumference, of said tubular connector, and wherein said row of barbedprongs is positioned intermediate the ends of said band, the length of said row being about one-quarter of the inner circumference of said tubular connector.

8. The combination defined in claim 7, wherein said row of barbed prongs comprises about eight equally spaced prongs.

9. A cleaning device for mounting in a tubular connector on the end of a vacuum hose, comprising a resilient band having a row of barbed prongs projecting therefrom, said band being sufficiently iiexible to enable bending into an arcuate configuration for insertion into said tubular connector with said barbed prongs projecting axially therefrom.

10. The cleaning device defined in claim 9, wherein the length of said band is less than the inner circumference of said tubular connector but greater than one-half of the inner circumference of said tubular connector.

11. The cleaning device defined in claim 10, wherein said row of barbed prongs is defined intermediate the ends of said band, and wherein the length of said row is about one-half the inner circumference of said tubular connector.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,137,023 6/1964 Klinge et al. 15-38 XR ROBERT W. MICHELL, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A VACUUM HOSE TERMINATING IN A TUBULAR CONNECTOR FOR INSERTION INTO A CLEANING ATTACHMENT, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING A BAND HAVING A ROW OF BARBED PRONGS, SAID BAND BEING DISPOSED IN AN ARCUATE CONFIGURATION WITHIN SAID TUBULAR CONNECTOR WITH SAID BARBED PRONGS PROJECTING AXIALLY THEREFROM AND WITH THE BARBS OF SAID PRONGS PROJECTING RADIALLY INWARD. 